I don’t understand the language, but what does that matter? Pavarotti sings directly to the heart. It would move the heart of a statue. And the message of the hymn, the proclamation that Jesus Christ is born, is the heart’s best nourishment.

No Christmas hymns submitted for the contest this morning–where did everybody go? So let me see if I can start the ball rolling with this, one of my favorites: The Sussex Carol, performed by Maddy Priot and the Carnival Band, the old-fashioned way. Is that somebody playing a sackbut in the background? Wow!

I don’t think anybody else will ask for this, so I will: Pat-a-Pan, an old Burgundian Christmas carol whose like is rarely met with anymore. This rousing performance is by the Zamar Students’ Choir at Harrisburg Baptist Church, in the Northern Mississippi Christmas Festival.

Another contribution from “jessicafischerqueen”–Silent Night sung in Irish, by Enya. Isn’t it nice to be able to celebrate Christmas without the government frowning at you? And so many of these pictures look like the jigsaw puzzles Patty and I give each other for Christmas.

Thank you, Phoebe, for being the first to request a Christmas song: Joy to the World. I don’t know who this is, performing it, but it’s beautiful, just beautiful.

Please, everybody, join in prayer for a moment.

O Lord Our God, please bless this year’s Christmas season with power to draw this troubled world to Jesus Christ her rightful king and only Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Update: The hospital just called with news that Aunt Joan’s fever has gone away and her condition is now stable. Thank you all for your prayers on her behalf. She can’t talk anymore, but I’ll be sure to tell her that she’s got a lot of good people praying for her.

For the first time in eight years we have a president who will say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Generic Holiday.” I think we should be grateful for it.

To celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, the only begotten Son of God born into our wretched fallen world to save it, I throw open this blog to you, the readers, and your requests for Christmas music. Any music that celebrates the birth of Christ is eligible and will be posted here. Sorry, no “Santa Baby” here: real Christmas carols only.

It doesn’t matter if a song has already been posted–if you ask for it, we’ll post it. Make as many requests as you like, there’s no limit. If you’ve never requested a hymn post before, well, come on now, join in the fun.

Like this:

This is the song I woke up with this morning–Angels We Have Heard on High, performed by I don’t know who: I wish I could give him credit by name.

There are dark and evil forces strenuously at work in our time, and Christmas needs to work on our hearts all year round. Easter, too! Our weapons are spiritual, our shield is faith, our sword is the word of God.